What it is used for
- Rheumatoid arthritis, with methotrexate
- Still's disease in children and adults
- Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes
- Familial Mediterranean fever when colchicine is not enough or unsuitable
How it is used
- Use it only as prescribed by your doctor, and learn to inject under the skin from your nurse or doctor
- Let the syringe reach room temperature before injecting, do not shake it, and change the injection spot each time
- Attend regular blood tests to check white blood cells and the liver
- Do not stop it without your doctor's advice
Possible side effects
- Redness, swelling or pain at the injection site, which usually settles
- Headache
- Infections such as colds and chest infections
- Low white blood cells
- Raised liver enzymes
Who should not use it
- Allergy to anakinra, to proteins made in E. coli bacteria, or to any ingredient
- A very low neutrophil count at the start of treatment
- A serious active infection
Before and while using it
- Tell your doctor at once about fever or any signs of infection
- You are checked for tuberculosis before treatment
- Avoid live vaccines during treatment unless your doctor agrees
- People with asthma are more likely to get infections
- In Still's disease, get urgent help for ongoing fever with rash or marked tiredness
Medicine interactions
- Do not combine it with TNF blockers or other biologic medicines, as serious infections increase
- Live vaccines
- The effect of warfarin and some other medicines may change as inflammation settles; your doctor monitors this
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Information is limited; your doctor decides about use in pregnancy, so tell them if you plan a pregnancy
- Ask your doctor if you are breastfeeding
How to store it
- Keep it in the fridge in the original pack, protected from light, and do not freeze it
Get medical help straight away if
- Your face, lips or tongue swell, or you find it hard to breathe.
- You get a severe rash, blistering or peeling skin.
- A side effect worries you or doesn’t go away: contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Questions about this medicine?
Talk to a doctor by video, or send your question by text.
Source: Standard international medicine references
This guide is general information and doesn’t replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Don’t start, stop or change a medicine without asking them, and always read the leaflet in the pack.